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The UK government has announced the finance situation for EU students starting university courses in England from September 2021 (i.e. after Brexit).

 

Regrettably, EU students will no longer be eligible for ‘home fee’ status or for financial support from Student Finance England. Instead, they will be charged international student fees (an example of international fee rates can be found at: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/International/students/finance/fees.aspx) This applies to undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

 

These changes have only been confirmed in England; Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will have separate arrangements, and these have not yet been announced.

 

The change will not affect students who have already started their courses at UK universities, or those who will start in autumn2020; they will remain eligible for student finance and ‘home fees’ for the full duration of their course.

 

Equally, UK nationals living in EU countries are guaranteed ‘home fee’ status for seven years after the end of the transition period (1 January 2021) – see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-europe#uk-nationals-in-the-eu.

 

More information and updates can be found on the Study UK website, which includes a dedicated EU students page: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/moving-uk/eu-students

 

Clearly this is disappointing news for all of us in ASIBA schools. Initial responses from UK universities reiterate their firm commitment to welcoming EU students, who make a vital and much-valued contribution to their institutions. For example, Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, writes: “overseas students – from the EU and beyond – should be able to study in the UK with minimal barriers…Universities are committed to working with government on further measures to support international students to study at UK universities.” We will continue our work with them and other international organisations in an effort to influence policy in this area and we will keep you updated with developments.

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